Senate panel amends and advances bill to help women after stillbirths, clarifying 'scholarship' language

Senator Lamar introduced Senate Bill 1565, which would authorize the Tennessee Department of Health, subject to appropriation, to create a fund to help women whose pregnancies end in stillbirth pay for burial or disposition of remains and to provide educational and grief-support resources.

During committee consideration, members raised concerns that the bill’s original wording—“support educational scholarships that may be awarded by the Department of Health”—could be read as authorizing academic scholarships. Senator Watson said the phrase was “subject to interpretation” and urged the sponsor to tighten the language. Grayson Carter, representing the Department of Health, told the committee that the sponsor did not intend academic scholarships and that the phrase could reflect an Office of Legislative Services drafting error.

Senator Lamar offered an amendment to rewrite the provision. As amended, the bill would permit the department to provide “educational resources, including grief support materials, informational resources related to stillbirth, and referrals to available assistance programs” and to award grants to offset burial or disposition costs. “This is an optional program for the Department of Health to create for burial support and educational resources for women who experience stillbirth,” the sponsor said after the language was changed.

The committee approved the amendment and then voted on the bill as amended. The roll-call tally recorded five ayes and two no votes; the chair announced the bill is referred to the Finance Committee for further consideration.

What happens next: The Finance Committee will consider the bill’s budgetary implications and any further changes before a floor action recommendation is made.